The well-known severity of cardiovascular disease in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires an accurate risk stratification of these patients in several clinical situations. Imaging has been used successfully for such purpose in the general population and it has demonstrated excellent potential among CKD patients as well. Two main forms of arterial pathology develop in patients with CKD: atherosclerosis, with accumulation of inflammatory cells, lipids, fibrous tissue and calcium in the subintimal space, and arteriosclerosis. The latter is characterized by accumulation of deposits of hydroxyapatite and amorphous calcium crystals in the muscular media of the vessel wall, and is believed to be more closely associated with alterations of mineral metabolism than with traditional atherosclerosis risk factors. The result is the development of what appears to be premature arterial ageing, with loss of elastic properties, increased stiffness, and increased overall fragility of the arterial system. Despite intensifying research and increasing awareness of these issues, the underlying pathophysiology of the aggressive vasculopathy of CKD remains largely unknown. As a consequence, there are currently very limited pathways to prevent progression of vascular damage in CKD. The indications, strengths and weaknesses of several imaging modalities employed to evaluate vascular disease in CKD are described, focusing on coronary arterial circulation and the peripheral arteries, with the exclusion of the intracranial arteries.